The Prose Edda 2.49

"Battle is called Storm or Snow-Shower of the Hjadnings, and weapons are termed Fire or Wands of Hjadnings; and this is the tale thereof: that king who was called Högni had a daughter named Hildr: her King Hedinn, son of Hjarrandi, took as the spoils of war, while King Högni attended an assembly of kings. But when he learned that there had been raiding in his realm and his daughter had been borne off, he departed with his host to seek Hedinn, and heard tidings of him, that he was proceeding northward along the land. When Högni had come into Norway, he learned that Hedinn had sailed westward over the sea. Then Högni sailed after him, even to the Orkneys; and when he landed at the place called Hoy, Hedinn was already there before him with his host. Then Hildr went to meet her father, and offered him a necklace on Hedinn's behalf, for reconciliation and peace; but if it were not accepted, she said, Hedinn was ready to fight, and Högni might hope for no mercy at his hands.

"Högni answered his daughter harshly; and when she returned to Hedinn, she told him that Högni desired no reconciliation, and she bade him make ready for battle. So did both parties: they went to the island and marshalled their hosts. Then Hedinn called to Högni his father-in-law, offering him reconciliation and much gold in compensation. But Högni answered: 'Thou hast made this offer over-late, if thou wouldst make peace: for now I have drawn Dáinsleif, which the dwarves made, and which must cause a man's death every time it is bared, nor ever fails in its stroke; moreover, the wound heals not if one be scratched with it.' Then said Hedinn: 'Thou dost boast in the sword, but not in the victory; I call any sword good which is faithful to its lord.' Then they began that famous battle which is called the Hjadnings' Strife, and they fought all that day, but at evening the kings went to their ships. Now Hildr went to the slain by night, and with magic quickened all those that were dead. The next day the kings went to the battlefield and fought, and so did all those that had fallen on the day before. So the fight went one day after the other: all who fell, and all those weapons which lay on the field, and the shields also, were turned to stone; but when day dawned, up rose all the dead men and fought, and all weapons were renewed. It is said in songs that in this fashion the Hjadnings shall continue unto the Weird of the Gods. Bragi the Skald composed verses after this tale in Ragnarr Lodbrók's Song of Praise:

And the belovèd Maiden Of the veins' blood-letting Purposed to bring, for wrath's sake, The bow-storm to her father: When the ring-wearing lady, The woman full of evil, Bore the neck-ring of War-Doom To the Battler of the Wind's Steeds.

That gory Wound-Amender To the glorious Monarch offered The necklace not for fear's sake, At the mote of fatal weapons: Ever as restraining battle She seemed, although she goaded Warriors to walk the death-road With the ravening Wolf's dire Sister.

The Prince of Folk, the Land-God, Let not the fight, wolf-gladdening, Halt, nor slaughter on the sands cease,-- Hate, deadly, swelled in Högni, When the stern Lords of Sword-Din Sought Hedinn with stern weapons, Rather than receive The necklet-rings of Hildr.

And that baleful Witch of Women, Wasting the fruits of victory, Took governance on the island O'er the axe, the Birnie's Ruin; All the Ship-King's war-host Went wrathful 'neath the firm shields Of Hjarrajidi, swift-marching From Reifnir's fleet sea-horses.

On the fair shield of Svölnir One may perceive the onslaught; Ragnarr gave me the Ship-Moon, With many tales marked on it.

Battle is called Storm of Odin, as is recorded above; so sang Víga-Glúmr:

I cleared my way aforetime Like earls to lands; the word went Of this among the Storm-Staves, The men of Vidrir's Sword-Wand.

Here battle is called Storm of Vidrir, and the sword is the Wand of Battle; men are Staves of the Sword. Here, then, both battle and weapons are used to make metaphors for man. It is called 'inlaying,' when one writes thus.

"The shield is the Land of Weapons, and weapons are Hail or Rain of that land, if one employs figures of later coinage.